When I shop for gifts outside of my neighborhood (East Hollywood), Retreat is my go-to…read more Diane, the owner, has curated a wonderful collection of jewelry, art prints, cards and fun gifts for virtually any occasion. Despite this shop's relatively small size, it is packed with goodies. My go-to is always the card section, where I invariably find a card for an upcoming birthday or, even better, the perfect card for a friend who could use a pick-me-up or a good laugh. My stationary drawer is packed with Retreat cards that I've got on the ready and I am very grateful. There is a great range of options in terms of price. You can find very fun patches and charms for around ten dollars. If you are looking a bit higher-end, there is a lovely collection of jewelry: but you are definitely paying for quality work that will be appreciated. Diane and the various employees are invariably friendly and eager to help you find something perfect for your friend or family.

This used to be one of my favorite shops, and my mom's too, but we recently had a strange and…read moreunpleasant experience. The person working there (possibly the owner, though we're not sure as we'd never encountered her before) was very rude and dismissive towards my mom. My mom was talking about her recent flight and some news she had heard about flying, as she had just arrived from out of town to visit me. The woman with short blonde hair suddenly interrupted, saying, "We DO NOT talk about that in here, NOPE! NO!" If you don't want to discuss a topic, there's a polite way to steer the conversation elsewhere. You don't need to be dismissive and rude, especially to customers. My mom felt terrible and shut down immediately. We left and won't be returning. It was a really bizarre and disappointing experience that ruined our visit.

Homage is a pleasant gift shop among a number of OTHER gift shops such as The Gold Bug and Retreat…read more Fortunately, with the exception of cards, they don't overlap too much in terms of their merchandise. Homage carries a lot of work by independent artists and artisans, including fine jewelry and ceramics. They also have a very large collection of fragrances in the forms of perfumes, room sprays and reed diffusers. The last time I was here was with an out of town friend who was really tempted to buy a handmade pair of gloves. She ended up not getting them and called me regretting her decision. So, this place is great for worn accessories (scarves, jewelry, gloves...etc.) and beautiful housewares. The prices are maybe a bit high, but the quality of the goods is pretty high. So, while I much more rarely buy from Homage than Retreat or Gold Bug, I would still recommend a look around.

Wonderful STORE! It's a tastic selection with wonderful service. The staff is professional and…read morepleasant and knowledgeable as well as helpful. They have a great selection of unique gifts and jewelry. I always have a great experience and enjoy visiting. I've discovered many wonderful gifts for friends and family. I highly recommend supporting this store.!

Great location and lovely shop. Lots of eye candy and unique finds for self or as gifts. The owner…read morewas present but failed to greet me. Seemed like he was preoccupied with merchandising. His shop assistant was sweeping and kind enough to say hello. There was one other person in the shop and seemed to be a personal acquaintance or friend as the owner and she spoke often to one another. Meanwhile, I buzzed around and thoroughly enjoyed both the many trinkets and decorative displays. Even the outside entry was cute and inviting. I'd pop in again if ever you n the area. I think if Carmine would have engaged a bit, I would have been more apt to browse a bit more and make a purchase. There's some adorable retro-style magnetic timers and gorgeous gold goldfish I was eyeballing. Maybe next time. Five stars for Vibe and unique finds. 2 stars for friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

Ran into this place by accident when I finally found parking down the street. Beautiful little shop…read morewith unique and beautiful curated home decor, candles, pillows, jewelry and body products.

Wow, this is no ordinary gift store…read more There are quite a few shops selling home wares, cards, candles and other gift-y items on Mission Street in South Pasadena. This place, however immediately stands out. When I passed by the store the first time I was struck by a collection of headwear: a beaded cap from the Congo and a hat from the Miao people of China and Southeast Asia. I'm an anthropologist, so I was hooked. This store has an incredibly curated collection: folk altars and santos from Latin America, bronze Buddhist statues and jewelry from around the world. The owner is quite a world traveler and it shows in her collection. Definitely a place for the culturally curious. Along with the numerous artifacts are small gifts: some wonderfully fragrant soaps (my favorites were rose geranium and patchouli/sandalwood), beeswax candles and some interesting kitchenware. People might find some items pricy...however, having done some research, most things are very reasonably priced for the quality. Definitely recommend.

I noticed this store as I was driving by and knew I had to go in! It is a hidden treasure near the…read moreheart of South Pasadena. Great vibe with a unique collection of items. The store owner, Sue, was such a lovely woman to talk to. Will definitely be returning.

Visited Imizzu Store and loved it! Super clean, organized, and visually satisfying. They have…read moreeverything- Labubu, Smiski, blind boxes, plushies, etc. Staff was kind, and Tu made my birthday special by giving me free tokens for the claw machines. The photobooth was also really fun! Some items are a bit pricey. Parking structure and street parking nearby.

My daughter and I were walking around Alhambra looking for a comic store, when Imizzu basically…read morethrew itself at us and tempted us to walk inside. So of course we did. Inside was a colorful explosion of claw machines, photo booths, plushies, Sanrio everything, Pokémon goodies, Labubu, cute pens, anime, stickers, and other miscellaneous knick knacks..... basically a cute merch black hole. We went in intrigued and walked out w bags of adorable stuff we absolutely didn't need but too cute to pass up, obviously!! The staff was super friendly. They take cash, but nothing over a $20 bill. Parking's behind the main street, so you get a nice little walk to prepare yourself for the chaos of cuteness inside. Very, very cool store!!!

Ten Thousand Villages is a fair-trade shop that carries merchandise from at least thirty-eight…read morecountries. It is woman-owned and displayed the LBGTQ+ Pride Flag in its window. Here you can find a wide variety of hand-crafted goods. And there is quite a myriad of objects on display. There are a large number of hand-woven bags, rugs and tapestries for use or display (or both). One wall is almost entirely devoted to jewelry. And there's a very large collection of pottery, including bowls, dishes and coffee mugs. This place is an excellent place to shop for those who are intrigued by foreign cultures. And the prices are extremely reasonable. And besides for being reasonable, you can find nice pieces in the under ten dollar range, well into the one hundred and fifty or more. There really is something for any budget. I was greeted when I entered the store and asked if I needed help...but was not asked every five minutes (something that I see as a major plus). Check out was a breeze with the clerk on duty. I will definitely come again.

I was on my way for groceries after my shift when I saw this cute shop that shares a parking lot,…read morebut with just about 20 minutes left until closing time. The manager Laurel was so kind and welcomed me in! She answered all of my questions and explained to me how to the items are sourced and selected for the shop. This is a BEAUTIFUL shop with the most incredible selection of affordable gifts and treasures. Bright, cheery, and well-organized. I didn't intend to buy so much, but I found something for each member of my family and a few friends, too. My favorites were the ornaments, children's area, kitchen items (aprons, dish towels) and the beautiful jewelry!! I had so much fun browsing and I am thrilled with my purchases. Thank you, Laurel! You are running a fab shop here in Pasadena and I can't wait to return!

Sold me FAKE, KNOCK OFF Pop Mart Space Molly figures from China…read more Shop at your own risk in terms of authenticity of their store products. Photos attached

Such a lovely store with the cutest selection of blind boxes, keychains, and small gifts…read more Everything feels carefully picked and beautifully arranged. The quality is great, and they always get the newest collections in! Perfect spot for gift lovers and collectors.

A happy and fun place to shop at if you love collectibles. They carry a large variety of anime…read moretoys. So if you are a collector you will love this place. They carry many other fun items such as pens, lunch boxes, stuffed animal etc. prices are reasonable and customer service was friendly. I walked in to check this place out while waiting for a table next door. I bought my niece a hello kitty toy and accessories. Really cute.

We had so much fun at the photo booth! Michael helped us so much and was so nice! They had tons of…read morecute stuff.

They literally have something for everyone here. My daughter loved this place she's only one, but…read moreshe had a blast looking at and sifting through the wide range of toys. Most of the toys are for kids just a bit older, so her choices were somewhat limited. They do have a decent number of dinosaur toys, figurines, and accessories, as you might expect from the name "The Dinosaur Farm." However, they offer a wide range of toys, everything from lava lamps to play dough. There's a decent amount of plush animals and educational toys as well. The staff is helpful and friendly, and there's usually parking available on the street."

30 YEARS OF BUSINESS IN PASADENA AND NOT EXTINCT!…read more I was one of those dinosaur kids growing up and I know I would have loved this place if I visited as a kid. Heck, learning of its existence, I love it even now as an adult. Everything is very dinosaur themed and very geared towards both children and the community. They have events that support the community too such as book readings and much more. Make sure to join their email list before checking out. I love that they also have cute dinosaur themed gift wrapping paper too. I think a neat touch that they have is all the dinosaur art that they have on the walls as well as the cute dinosaur trinkets and toys that they have all around. I love the variety of little plastic dinosaur figurines that they have. Probably the most diversity of species that I have seen and in the most sizes too. Some which I have never even heard of, so much more than the stereotypical T-rex and Triceratops that you can find anywhere else. Also, fear not, there are toys and other goods for the other children in your family/party who may not be as dinosaur inclined if that is your worry. I got a really neat Dinosaur Farm t-shirt there (they come in blue and green) and a little figure for my desk. It def more of a toy store geared towards children than a super educational museum store towards geeky adults, but that's fine with me too! As a dino enjoyer, I support all ventures into the prehistoric practice!

Crush & Touch is an art supply shop located in Highland Park. This is one of several cards &…read morestationery shops on York Blvd (including Shorthand locating right next door). [Parking]: There are plenty of metered parking spots and paid public parking lots, but parking can be hard to come by during busy shopping seasons. [Selection]: The shop offers various art supplies (e.g. drawing books), greeting cards, stickers, hair clips, pens, markers, Rolife DIY Miniature House, etc. This shop has slightly more selection on Valentine's Day cards. The shop was not as colorful as the next door stationery shop Shorthand. [Conclusion]: I didn't buy anything during my visit as I didn't see any specific items that matched what I was looking for, but I can see myself coming back here from time to time if I need to look for interesting greeting cards.

Bright and vibrant arts/stationary store…read more Reasonable prices. They have a lot of nice cards and prints for sale. I didn't buy anything this time but will be back. The staff girl was really nice and helpful.